Lucy Davis has thanked fans for their support after being left 'utterly overwhelmed' by the response to her cancer diagnosis, and has joked that she is 'still alive' after some people misread the news.
The 53-year-old actor revealed earlier this week that she has incurable breast cancer which has spread to her bones, telling fans she does not know 'how long' she has left.
'Utterly overwhelmed' by support
In a new social media update, Davis admitted she had been stunned by the sheer number of messages she received after sharing her diagnosis, which prompted an outpouring of support from fans, friends, family, and former colleagues.
'Ok, so the last two days have been utterly overwhelming, in that I had zero idea my cancer post would have the attention it did,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Truly, I am in shock. That said, thank you to everyone for the tremendous amount of kindness and support you have sent me. Good grief it was emotional.'
'I am trying to go through all the comments on my post – and I'll get there, just give me a bit of time.'
'I am still alive – hurrah'
However, amid the thousands of well-wishes were apparently a couple of slightly premature condolences. Davis joked: 'Also, to the couple of people who slightly misread the news and commented RIP, you'll be delighted to know I am still alive – hurrah.'
She appeared determined to inject some lightness into the devastating situation, accompanying her message with a video of herself attempting a skateboarding lesson. The lesson came courtesy of actor Malachi Barton, who starred alongside Davis in Disney Channel comedy The Villains of Valley View, with Davis joking that she has 'no sporting ability whatsoever'.
She explained that she wanted to post the clip to 'lighten things up' following the emotional response to her diagnosis.
Diagnosis and career
Davis revealed on Tuesday that she was first diagnosed with breast cancer around a year and a half ago. By the time it was discovered, she said the disease had metastasised to her bones, including her spine, right hip and ribs, and it was 'too late' for chemotherapy.
In an extraordinarily candid post about facing an uncertain future, the actor said she was now concentrating on making the most of the time she has. 'As of now, I'm trying to live out whatever might be left of my life in as fun a way as I possibly can,' she wrote. 'I'm not scared of whatever comes next. I'm at peace with it.'
Her announcement prompted messages from many of those who have worked with Davis over her lengthy career, including her former The Office co-star Ricky Gervais, while her father, comedian Jasper Carrott, was also among those publicly supporting her.
Davis comes from comedy royalty herself, and one of her earliest television appearances came alongside her dad in an episode of his BBC sitcom The Detectives. She also appeared in the BBC's beloved 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice before landing the role that would make her famous six years later.
In 2001, Davis was cast as receptionist Dawn Tinsley in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's The Office, with her painfully awkward romance with Tim Canterbury, played by Martin Freeman, becoming one of the sitcom's most memorable storylines. The success of the series helped launch Davis internationally, and she went on to appear in Shaun of the Dead in 2004 and Wonder Woman in 2017, as well as playing Hilda Spellman in Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Her latest update suggests Davis intends to approach what comes with spirit, including learning to skateboard and gently correcting anyone who has accidentally written her obituary a little early.
